AaronM, JimGunn, Tony404, Markham Step Inside

When I send tapes with raw footage and edited movies to a client I still have the raw footage in digital form and project files on my external hard drives for a few months in case anything gets lost. No need to make a tape backup in that case. One thing about mini-DV tapes is they don't require power and they are easy to label. Small HDDs still need power and to be plugged in. Tapes are easy to throw in a drawer or closet. If I ever do go tapeless, small HDDs sound like the way to go.

?? it isn't 1970 s no more paul .. LOL

Hard drive is a great way to store your digital video. plus creating a great WORKFLOW .. that means in layman terms .. you won't spend the hour stairing blindly at a capture screen, only to find out that your settings are all off, cus youve been using the manifacturers presets .. LOL

NEXT .. WHAT digital camera head are you shooting with that can handle a 100$ lens .. please advise ... and please don't say canon cus a XL H 1 Cus this Can't take a 100 $ lens but is a 10 000 Camera ..

simply put if your in content and your seriously asking this question ? What camera to get" then find another posistion within our great industry . also if you think that digital tape is better then HD, your stuck in the past. The fact is that MiniDv isn't that great of a product, it has been laced wit problems from day one .. too small of a transport, resulting in lots of particles flying around and landing in the most in - appropriate places. Low life drum heads caused by second grade metals to keep prices down .. etc .. Adhesive tape is know not to have a good shelf life, if they couldn't do it with 1 inch what makes you think they can with a 8 mm tape ?

LAstly WORKFLOW. I won't even comment on the difference here.


Lookin at the newest cams out there for under 5000 $ .. Panasonic's P2 is awesome .. Sony's newest EX is grate .. but if you are stuck on canon .. Then the XH is your camera of choice hans down ... Opt for more expensive G1 rather then the A1. You'll thank me for the HD back up later.


All the best .. and please keep the Real Shooting to the Pros .. don't try this at home you just might hurt yourself . LOL

Great weekend all ... Vicious out

One thing about mini-DV tapes is they don't require power and they are easy to label. Small HDDs still need power and to be plugged in.

"Mini-DV tapes don't require power?" Uhm- what???

With no power, DV tapes are just as useless as a hard drive, unless you're using gerbils on a wheel to power your playback.

We're just cutting some stuff Jay-Rock shot for me with his EX-1. It's gorgeous, and has given Tom some serious camera lust. He uses an HV-20 with the WD-H43, and says it doesn't even come close.

But the HV-20 is consumer gear, the EX-1 is in a whole different ballpark.

I meant the individual hard drives each require their own power. The less things that need power in my office the better. My electrical capability is just about maxed out! The Ex-1 looks pretty cool though for when I do go tapeless.

SOME SONY EX1 ($6500 + MEMORY) SAMPLE CLIPS

THE FIRST VIDEO (Scarlett Faye) IS WITH KINO FLO LIGHTS THE OTHER SCENES IS WITH NO LIGHTING AT ALL JUST AVAILABLE LIGHT

http://jay-rock.com/hdvids/scarlett_faye.mov

http://jay-rock.com/hdvids/shyla_capri_GG.mov

http://jay-rock.com/hdvids/shyla_interview.mov

http://jay-rock.com/hdvids/shyla_april_GG.mov

the people here telling you to get ioff tape are correct

go to solid state storage HD or SDHC cards or both and hi def is the only way to go

Im with you, but im still gonna wait to see what will be the standard.

...or other content shooters.

I am looking at new camcorders. My Canon is around 5-6 years old now, and it's time for an upgrade. Still works fine, but gradually bumping up the quality on gear, computes, software, post production, etc..

I prefer DV AVI tape, as that is what I am shooting on now. Just not ready to make the move to disk. I prefer Canon, but will listen to other suggestions.

What are you using? Links helpful.

Fire away.

I use the Canon Vixia HV30 HDV (Mini DV's) you said you like Canon, this thing rocks and is affordable. You can shoot both HD and DV.

I'm really loving my little Canon HV20. It's not true HD, but it sure looks sweet.

You guys are going talking waaay ahead of barefootsies lol. He has been using a consumer camcorder for 5 yrs and Im pretty sure never touched the manual controls the whole time. Go with the hv20 if you can get it or 30 you will be very happy compared to the imagine you are getting now and it wont bankrupt you.

We use HV20 and we use manual controls all the time and the quality is more than enough for our customers. The only thing we buy now is some new lights or better locations.